McNeil won’t play soccer this summer with the Breakers

Boston’s Kia McNeill during the 2013 campaign. (Photo by Mike Gridley, courtesy Boston Breakers)

SOMERVILLE, Mass. – Avon native Kia McNeill won’t be suiting up for the Boston Breakers in the National Women’s Soccer League this summer. McNeill, 27, has opted to continue her studies and her role as an assistant coach with the Boston College women’s soccer team.

McNeill graduated from BC in 2008 with a degree in human development and a minor in psychoanalytic studies. She has been an assistant coach with the Eagles since 2009 and is working on her MBA. The Breakers will retain her rights.

McNeill has been a defender in her professional career. With the Breakers last summer, she started all 21 games at center back and played career-high 1,890 minutes for Boston (8-8-6). Only three other players had more time on the field than McNeill. 

She played three years in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) before it folded following the 2011 season. She anchored the back line in 2011 with Philadelphia as the Independence won the league championship. McNeill scored her only pro goal that season.

McNeill is an assistant coach at Boston College

McNeill was drafted ninth overall out of Boston College in the 2008 draft and she appeared in 19 games with the St. Louis Athletica. She helped anchor a St. Louis defense that allowed the second fewest goals in the league in 2009. She was traded to Atlanta in 2010 and signed with Philadelphia in 2011 as a free agent.

McNeill has been a defender since her senior season at Boston College, where she scored 24 goals in her first three seasons. Injuries had battered the Eagles and her coach moved her to defense. A one-game experiment turned into a permanent switch and she helped anchor the BC defense that allowed just 0.475 goals per game in 2007. She was also the Big East Rookie of the Year in 2003.

McNeill graduated from Avon in 2004. She was the state player of the year in 2003 and a two-time NSCAA high school All American. She helped Avon win three straight Class M championships. She also lettered in basketball and track.

Collinsville Press, Aug. 21, 2010: McNeill anchors Atlanta defense in 3-2 win over Boston in New Britain

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